ATO Records release Okkervil River’s ‘In The Rainbow Rain’, the group’s most immediate – and meaningful – album to date. On it, bandleader Will Sheff makes a startling left turn from the their critically-lauded and inward-looking 2016 album ‘Away’, crafting an exuberant declaration of hope. In place of ‘Away’’s somber strings and acoustic textures, ‘In The Rainbow Rain’ is full of dazzling colour, spattered with starbursts of electric guitar, big blooms of synth and a chorus of backing vocals. It’s a buoyant and playful record but also open and emotionally vulnerable.

‘In The Rainbow Rain’ – produced by Sheff and mixed by Shawn Everett (Perfume Genius, Alabama Shakes, The War on Drugs) – serves as showcase for Sheff’s writing and the musical interplay of his new band mates, Benjamin Lazar Davis (bass), Will Graefe (guitar), Sarah Pedinotti (keys) and Cully Symington (percussion) – the same iteration of Okkervil River that joined Sheff on the ‘Away’ tour. Recalls Sheff of that tour: “It was my favorite touring experience in many years… I felt like a kid again. I realized how phenomenally lucky I am that I’ve been able to play music for this long.”

Opaque blue / purple swirl marbled vinyl LP with digital download.